Mamoiada: Experience Mask Culture, Museums and Wine

Masks, Rituals and Museums

Mamoiada combines a strong mask tradition with museums, archaeological heritage, wine and paths through the hills. The Museo delle Maschere Mediterranee compares the ritual arts of Barbagia with mask traditions from the wider Mediterranean region. It displays complete masks and costumes of the Mamuthones and Issohadores of Mamoiada. A multimedia presentation on large screens also conveys the connection between the municipality of Mamoiada and the ritual of the Mamuthones and Issohadores.

The Museo della Cultura e del Lavoro focuses on Mamoiada’s agro-pastoral society. Traditional costumes, their styles, fabrics, accessories, decorations and colours illustrate the social organisation, the hierarchies between social classes, and the roles of men and women. The Museo dell'Archeologia e del Territorio di Mamoiada, MATer, is dedicated to Mamoiada’s archaeological heritage and documents menhirs, necropolises, nuraghi and settlements. An interactive multimedia tour extends across three themed rooms.

The Mamuthones in Mamoiada

The mask tradition becomes particularly tangible during the Mamoiada carnival. The Mamuthones and Issohadores appear during the Feast of Saint Anthony between 16 and 17 January, on Carnival Sunday and Shrove Tuesday. After dressing up, the Mamuthones move through Mamoiada in groups of twelve, while the Issohadores perform in groups of eight. As part of the “La Culla dei Mamuthones e Issohadores” experience, guests also visit a historic venue where costumes, instruments and accessories from the mask tradition are preserved.

Archaeological Traces in the Landscape

Even beyond the museums, Mamoiada offers tangible evidence of the past. The Boeli Stele, also known as Sa Perda Pintà, is decorated with concentric circles around a central cup mark. A straight incision cuts through the circles and ends in a hook-shaped extension; there are also 23 additional cup marks. The Istevéne necropolis consists of six artificially created hypogea, locally known as Concheddas. There are 32 nuraghi in the Mamoiada area, including Arràilo. Together with traces of settlements and giants’ tombs, they shape the more fertile areas.

Paths, Vineyards and Local Flavours

The hills around Mamoiada are crossed by the “sentieri dei pastori”, former transhumance routes that are now used as trekking and mountain-bike trails. The Mamoiada Experience includes urban trekking routes that continue with excursions through vineyards and subsequent wine tastings at a winery. The “Mamoiada – Rinascere con il Vino” experience includes three selected glasses of wine from local wineries. It also presents winemaking techniques through the first-hand account of a winemaker or producer. Cantina Giuseppe Sedilesu is part of the Strada del Vino Cannonau.

Practical Information for Your Stay

Mamoiada’s museum system offers guided tours in Italian, English, French and Spanish. To reach the Istevéne necropolis, leave the village via the SS 389 towards Fonni and follow it for approximately 3 km to a passing place. From there, a gently uphill path leads to the first Domus de Janas. This combination of museums, mask rituals, archaeological sites, wine and trails can help you decide what to focus on during your stay. When choosing a hotel in Mamoiada, you can use your preferred mix of culture, landscape and wine as a guide.

Discover More Destinations

For your further travel planning: Orosei, Lodè, Irgoli, Talavà, Silanus, Ollolai, La Caletta, Sorgono.

For the higher-level travel overview: Nuoro.